b-LOG

Irrevocable. By definition: not to be revoked or recalled; unable to be repealed or annulled. Every offer in organized real estate has an irrevocable time and date, meaning until that time, the offer is firmly in the hands of the seller with the buyer, by definition, unable to revoke or repeal it. Or in the […]

Looking for help making sense of our local real estate corn maze? 😊 We’re here to help! Hindsight and Real Statistics are a lovely combo. Especially when you can look back on the previous year and realize while we didn’t necessarily feel it at the time, it was quite soft in comparison to recent history. […]

10. Everyone has a different approach to negotiating. Just because an offer or counter-offer doesn’t match with your expectations, doesn’t mean an agreement isn’t possible. Patience is the key. 9. Staging and Pre-Listing Preparation (note capitalized first letters to add importance) is hugely important in today’s visual world. A properly prepared and beautifully marketed home […]

We often hear from people (the general public and REALTORS® alike) who have concerns with condo fees. By concerns we mean good ol’ fashioned “no thanks!” hesitation. “I have a friend in a condo and her fees just went up again to nearly $900 a month!” There are 2 questions you should always ask. […]

Shhhhh….. Shhhh…. Or at least be very careful what you are saying when touring a home. The tools have been in place for many years but the variety of tools and ease of accessing them has never been greater than today. Long story short? Houses may have ears these days. Whether it’s a simple audio […]

Welcome to our bTEAM 2018 Niagara Real Estate Market Report. There is plenty of talk out there about the market being “soft”. What the data in this report shows is more of a return to normal as the total sales data resembles the pre-2016 market frenzy. Below you’ll see a video jam packed with Niagara […]

It’s a beautiful Saturday in April and you’ve finally made the decision to part with your beloved car. Pardon me. To call it simply a car is an affront to the relationship you’ve built while you and ‘her’ cruised around the last 35 years. After much thought, several family meetings and a few trips through […]

That is often the question. And the debate. And a source of potential friction as a couple or person and their family oscillate back and forth between staying put or downsizing their living space. We have worked with hundreds of people over the years through this process whether it is downsizing to a townhome or […]

Let’s talk about Gary the Golfer. Think of Gary and his golf game when comparing the last few years in Niagara real estate. Gary has shot in the 90 – 100 range for most of his golfing life. One day he goes out and everything goes perfect. The wind is always at his back, the […]

If you’re planning on a move in February or March, there are some things you should do right now. Ok, maybe not right now but we’ve broken down a month-by-month timeline to help. SEPTEMBER: PHOTOS. Sure, you’ll get frozen tundra photos taken in February but how is a buyer supposed to get excited about your […]

Now that we’ve rounded the bend past Labour Day weekend, its time to look back at summer 2018 in comparison to last year. As well, we’ve had a look back to 2016 for further comparison. The market in general has been a bit of a blur the last few years making year to year comparisons […]

Another month and another bucket of stats gets thrown around for our local real estate market. If there is one thing we’re learning on a monthly basis is there were things happening in 2017 that make year over year comparisons a dangerous prospect. Exhibit A: For the city of Thorold, the average sale price for […]

When you drill down to the core, there are really only 2 types of negotiations that could potentially lead to a resolution. Type 1: The Win-Win The first is based on both parties working towards an agreement that is agreeable to all. Side A gives a little to get a little. Likewise, Side B’s compromise […]

The first half of 2018 has been a mix of predictable and surprising across most municipalities of Niagara. Here is some quick insight into what is happening in the background: Number of Sales The total number of sales have pulled back between 15% and 47% depending on the city however 2018 v 2017 first half […]

: WARNING : This bLOG contains more than the recommended dose of analogies. Prepare yourself. Your car as it sits right now is likely in need of a bit of attention if you were selling it tomorrow. Vacuum, wash, wax and shine should all be on your list. Getting married next weekend? Please tell me […]

It’s difficult to think of a profession that is not in the midst of change as technology, for better or worse, weaves its way through all aspects of life. Whether you’re a teacher, financial planner, landscaper or restauranteur, you’ve likely felt it too. A changing marketplace requires a changing strategy in order to keep the […]

We want to save $7,500! Of course you do! “We want to sell our home. If I list with these guys I’ll save $6,500 compared to you. Can you price match them?” As a consumer of a service to sell your home, there’s great news. You can hire a company for a few hundred dollars […]

We have a confession to make! Aside from being huge fans of all things real estate, we absolutely love being REALTORS® and all that comes with it. Seeing the joy on buyer’s faces when you give them the news their offer was accepted never gets old. Unfortunately though, not every real estate transaction goes smoothly. […]

We’re going to stay home for showings in case they have any questions. Trust us when we say “don’t do it”. Allow the buyer to have their open discussions and spend the time needed to imagine spending the equivalent of a shiny, new Lamborghini on your home. That’s a great offer but we just went […]

Finally, spring is here, well…according to the calendar anyways. With spring, comes the anticipation of another spring market for us Realtors and you sellers and buyers. This spring comes at the tail end of an unprecedented and very active 24 months in the Niagara real estate market. While still active and strong, it is clear […]

Moving is no small chore. Even if you hire movers, there is still a great deal to get done in a short period of time. But while we do what we can to reduce our own stress, we must also remember the family pets and how a move impacts them. Whether it’s across town or […]

Former American Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. is quoted as saying “Taxes are the price we pay for civilized society.” And he couldn’t have been more concise. Regardless of your opinion on the subject, it is important to understand that paying taxes is our way of contributing to the greater of good of […]

You prepare for it weeks or even months in advance. You build up your defences for the emotional roller coaster that would leave even the most fleet-footed tired and drained. But once you cross the finishline and the last box is unpacked, you can then begin to focus on the new beginnings that a move […]

Mortgages. There likely exists no other subject that causes more angst among those looking to purchase real estate. And it is for this reason we nominate mortgages for top honours in our home buying heebie-jeebies awards. Unless you are fortunate enough to be financially privileged, getting a mortgage is a must in order to purchase […]

Welcome to our bTEAM – McGarr Realty 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Niagara. If there is one concept we would like to stress with this report is the importance of apples-to-apples comparison. There was an 18 month stretch from 2016 to 2017 that was truly unprecedented. As a result, to just look at 1 […]

Shopping for a new home in 2018? Then you’ve likely heard of the new mortgage rules put in place by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada’s banking regulator). We’ve heard from many with questions about how these new rules affect them and whether or not they should consider following through with making […]

In the speed of today’s world, it appears that when things go wrong, there seems to be one common factor. Or rather, one missing ingredient. Perspective. Without consulting google for the official definition, it seems that perspective (or the lack of) is the contributing factor to so many situations gone wrong. Think about the scene […]

The date is March 22nd, 2017 and you own Gary’s Variety Store on Main Street, Anytown, Ontario. Things are going great. Customers file in non-stop. Milk, newspapers and coffee crisp bars are flying off the shelves. Scratch lotto? Don’t even get me started. Everyone’s scratchin! Business is what you’d call brisk. After all, the closest […]

In a market that is changing like ours, we are trying to look back in 90 day or year-to-date segments. Looking at 30 day time periods is too small a sample size, at least in our un-official opinion! For the last 90 days (Aug 1 – Oct 31) we looked at year over year for […]

To quote the title of the classic jazz tune by Eddie Harris & Les McCann, when comparing anything to something, the question to ask is just that. Compared to what? Persepctive. In our world, Niagara real estate in 2017 is being compared to 2016 simply because 2016 is the closest market in recent memory. But […]

An 18 Month Journey From House Renter to Home Owner This is a story about a couple named James & Nicole. They are the quintessential couple, renting while they save up and look for their first home. They’ve done everything right. They went to their bank to get pre-approved. Proof of income, paperwork signed and […]

Is the market changing? Yes. Phewf. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss the market, stats and some of the headlines out there. When a market adjusts from an unprecedented market, is the new market plunging or is it adjusting back to a more healthy balance? That is the statistical million […]

A funny thing happens when a market swings in the favour of one party over the other. In this bLOG, we’re talking specifically about a seller’s market. In particular, the seller’s market that Niagara has been experiencing for about 16 to 18 months straight. “What is a seller’s market?” It is when there is high […]

There are a lot of things that I don’t know. In fact, my business partner has told me once or twice that what I don’t know could fill a dump truck. But I do know a few things for sure. I know that butter tarts should be their own food group. I know that Capri […]

Let’s start out by agreeing that there is no such thing as a sure thing in the home buying process. By ‘sure thing’ we mean a guaranteed, no-issues-whatsoever, smooth sailing, problem-free home with rainbows and unicorns in the backyard. When you are looking at homes, regardless of whether it is a new build or a […]

We have all heard the expression ‘elephant in the room’. Meaning a subject that is reasonably obvious but people are reluctant to speak up about. Usually the elephant in the room creates an awkward and sweaty palmed hush that causes us polite Canadians to pull back a bit. If you have ever toured homes as […]

If there’s one thing we all know for sure is that all markets are temporary. As much as a serious sellers’ market feels like it will never go away, it will. Whether it’s geo-political, macro-economic or some kind of other supply and demand factors, any market can speed up or slow down at any time. […]

One of the biggest mistakes made by both REALTORS® and their clients alike is the inability to put themselves in the shoes of the other party. The lack of ability to apply empathy to the situation can prove costly. Empathy, according to Wikipedia, is something similar to this: It is the capacity to understand or […]

We see it all the time. A lovely kitchen with shaker style cabinetry along with wide plank hardwood flooring has been installed through the main floor. In an effort to save a bit of money (or to assert their position as the resident home renovator), the owners decide to install their own trim and doors. […]

In a heated sellers’ market like we are currently in, there is a tendency for people to think that everything sells. We have even heard someone say “even a duck can sell homes in this market”. Perhaps it is easier to sell a home in this market but that sentiment comes with a sidebar. Executing […]

We get up and go to work. While at work, we lift, we think, we hustle and we go home. Whether we work up a sweat, run our mind ragged, inspire ourselves and others or sleep walk through the day, there is one commonality across the board. TIME When we are at work, we are […]

We often get asked about the inner workings of this business. The mindset it takes to get up every day where the onus and responsibility for any desired success is entirely on our shoulders. “What’s it like to not know if you’re going to make any money?” That’s an easy questions for us to answer. […]

If you have been watching and trying to figure out the new (if temporary) reality that we are in here in Niagara, you are not alone. Last week I was getting my hair styled. Note: not cut. My hair stylist Monica doesn’t mess around. Anyway, I was surrounded by real estate conversations. Grocery store, a […]

First, I realize that the runner in lane 1 is either a false start or getting warmed up so they aren’t officially separating themselves from the competition since the race hasn’t started. But the imagery also illustrates something near and dear to our collective heart. Every year we hear a similar refrain from some sellers. […]

As the much welcomed Family Day holiday approaches, it’s a great time to pause and reflect on the manic nature of the world we live in. 24/7 new headlines that are overloaded on the negative. Uncertainty with a general rumbling of stress. Phones buzzing and pinging, kids lunches to make and pouring rain in February […]

Welcome to 2017! Here we are in February looking back at January and the previous 6 months running up to 2017. The market has been sustained with a relentless push of buyer demand. Increased sale prices, increased total number of sales with reduced days on the market all point to us being knee deep in […]

Welcome to 2017! Needless to say, 2016 was a year of surprises and “wow” moments whether looking at politics, pop culture or real estate. In terms of real estate in Niagara, we had a historic year with double digit increases across most segments of the market. For years we have watched the “GTA effect” trickle […]

We live in Canada. We sell homes in Canada. And with Canada, we deal with 4 (sometimes very) distinct seasons. Many think that homes don’t sell in the winter or it’s not the best time to sell. It really comes down to simple high school economics (in which yours truly acquired a solid B- in […]

Not to air dirty real estate industry laundry, but sometimes we have to call it like we see it. Why do we so often see real estate listing photos that are, in a word, horrid. Or terrible. Embarrassing, laughable and confusing are also part of the equation. It is something that has puzzled us for […]

Since mid January of 2016, our local market, specifically St. Catharines, has seen the delay of offers presentation become almost normal. The big (unanswered) questions are what does it mean and who does it really benefit? Well, as often is the case in real estate, it depends what side of the table you sit on. […]

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The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service®, and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.